Democrats pressure Republicans to support Asian-American hate crimes bill

Washington — The Senate will take up a bill addressing hate crimes against Asian Americans this week amid a spike in anti-Asian discrimination and violence during the coronavirus pandemic. But the bill may be subject to the first filibuster of the new Congress if an insufficient number of Republicans agree to support it.

The bill introduced by Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono, which currently lacks any Republican co-sponsors, would expedite the federal government's response to hate crimes against Asian Americans and strengthen guidance for state and local government hate crime reporting. Democrats have a narrow 50-seat majority in the Senate, and 60 votes are required to end debate on legislation and bring it to the Senate floor for a full vote. Without support from 10 Republican senators, the bill will stall — and provide opponents of the filibuster with further evidence that the rule is preventing Democrats from implementing their priorities. Many Democrats have pressed for eliminating the filibuster, which would allow legislation such as this bill to advance with a simple majority.